CISTA

Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol

Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol

Political party in the United Kingdom

Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol (CISTA) was a political party in the United Kingdom, which advocated the legalisation of cannabis.

Quick Facts Abbreviation, Chairperson ...
Quick Facts Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance, Chairperson ...

The party was launched in February 2015.[3] The party fielded candidates in the 2015 general election, campaigning for a Royal Commission to review the UK's drug laws relating to cannabis and to push the economic argument for legalisation, which it argued could generate £900 million in taxation.[4] None of the candidates won a seat.

The party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission on 3 November 2016.[5] Former members of the party from Northern Ireland registered a new party with the same initials, Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance, in February 2017 to contest the 2017 Assembly election.[2]

Electoral performance

General election, 7 May 2015

The party contested 32 constituencies, with its largest share of the vote coming in East Londonderry with 527 (1.5%).

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Source: BBC News Election 2015[6]

London mayoral election, 5 May 2016

Lee Harris stood for CISTA in the 2016 London Mayoral election. He finished ninth out of twelve candidates, obtaining 20,537 first-round votes (0.8%).[7]

Northern Ireland Assembly election, 5 May 2016

The party contested four of the 18 constituencies, with its largest share of the vote in any election that the party had contested coming in Newry and Armagh with 2.2% (1,032 first-preference votes).[8]

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Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance

Following the de-registering of Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol in November 2016,[5] a new party bearing the same initials, Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance, was registered with the Electoral Commission in February 2017,[2] one week before the close of nominations for the snap elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The leader of this new party is Barry Brown, who was a CISTA candidate in 2016 and 2017.

Electoral performance

Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2 March 2017

The party contested three of the 18 constituencies, with its largest share of the vote coming in Newry and Armagh with 704 first-preference votes (1.3%).

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2017 United Kingdom general election

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Interview: Paul Birch, founder of UK party for a review into cannabis law". The Mancunian. 14 March 2015. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  2. [2]
    "Registration - Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. [3]
    Lamiat Sabin, "Cannabis party called Cista launched in UK to campaign for drug law reform ahead of elections", The Independent, 14 February 2015
  4. [4]
    "New UK political party wants to make cannabis an election issue". The Guardian. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. [5]
    Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol [De-registered 03/11/16]. The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. [6]
    BBC News Election 2015. Results for Bethnal Green & Bow, Camberwell & Peckham, Cities of London & Westminster, Dundee East, East Londonderry, Eddisbury, Esher & Walton, Glasgow Central, Glasgow North, Glasgow North East, Glasgow North West, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Hackney South & Shoreditch, Holborn & St Pancras, Inverclyde, Islington South & Finsbury, Kensington, Leeds West, North Down, Paisley & Renfrewshire, N, Rutherglen & Hamilton West, Sheffield South East, Stoke-on-Trent Central, Streatham, Thurrock, Upper Bann, Vale of Glamorgan , Vauxhall, Wakefield, West Tyrone, Woking
  7. [7]
    "Politics Live: Election results coverage". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  8. [8]
    "NI Election 2016: Results". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  9. [9]
    Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED Foyle
  10. [10]
    Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED Newry and Armagh
  11. [11]
    Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED West Tyrone
  12. [12]
    "Election 2017: West Tyrone", BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2017
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